@ cberau:

So did you have the ETS surgery?

Nope, still battling insurance. Mayo clinic is kind of difficult to deal with too because of the bureaucracy there. It's mostly been hard because of all the days the insurance company is taking off due to the holidays. Right now the surgery is tentatively rescheduled for Jan 5th while I wait on my appeal.

Keep me posted. I am really interested to see how the insurance handles your case. The more info that i have for myself, the better. That way when I have the surgery done - I'll know what to expect.

Yeah, united healthcare is a horrible company. They have been playing bait and switch with me since I started this. I have faxed my appeal to them multiple times and they still say that they haven't received it. It is getting really annoying. Hopefully once they get the appeal they will accept it. I'll keep you posted.

Tell them you want to speak to their supervisor. Then ask the supervisor the his/her personal fax #. I used to be a Medical Biller. The insurance companies play games all the time.

Yeah that's what I've been doing, they are absolute scumbags. I was finally able to submit a verbal appeal, which should finally open the door to a peer-to-peer with the surgeon. Once I was talking to the guy who was taking down my verbal appeal he kept saying how eye opening it was to him how many problems can be caused by HH. He sounded extremely convinced on the medical necessity of the surgery, but ultimately it's not up to him. The insurance company said I should know within 15-30 days. So much for a Dec 29th surgery date.

Twintstar 88 is absolutely correct. The surgery is a terrible idea and should only be an absolutely last resort.

...who in the world is Twinstar88???

Actually, we feel that ETS surgery is a wonderful option. I'm sorry you don't agree, but this conversation is actually about having the ETS surgery.

Did you ever have the surgery?

Hi

My boyfriend had ETS about 6 years ago. He used to sweat profusely from head, hands, feet and armpits. Back then he was obviously struggling with this but he was a happy guy but since having the operation, although he stopped sweating in those areas the compensatory sweating is 100 times worse. He sweats more than he ever has before from his back and torso to his legs basically everywhere else and as a result he is now suffering from depression and anxiety and contemplated taking his own life.

This is heartbreaking for me to watch and feel so helpless. He has good and bad days but when he's having a bad day there's absolutely nothing I can do to help him.

I wouldn't recommend this, there are so many other options that my partner wasn't made fully aware of beforehand that in hindsight he is sure would've worked.

I watched him deteriorate over the years as a result of this operation!

@ Debs82,
I'm very sorry to hear about your boyfriend's compensatory sweating going out of control. If he didn't have the ETS surgery done, what treatment(s) would he have done instead.

I'm going to school to be a nurse and the hand sweating is a real problem!!

Wow! I have read through most of these comments about ETS. Im still on the fense but I can relate to ghost12345 I was start nursing school soon and a nurse aide job. I am working really hard to not let HH run my life but its a huge problem...

I love to talk to anyone who is suffering from this life ruining disease!! mine has gotten so bad if effects every part of my life,, imma very out going ,fun loving person ,that's now hiding from the world... so sad!

Here is a link to a more active forum. If a question has been asked and answered you'll find it here

http://www.socialphobiaworld.com/hyperhidrosis-forum/